The Internet Times - Entertainment News, Technology News

2012-02-22T15:06:00.000+00:00

Rihanna and Chris Brown gave their fans a double treat on February 20, the day she turned 24. In addition to dropping a remix of his single "Turn Up the Music", the former lovers unleash a re-recorded version of her song "Birthday Cake".

"Girl, I wanna f**k you right now/ Been a long time, I've been missing your body," Breezy sing his sexually-dripping lyrics. "Lemme lemme turn the lights down/ When I, when I go down it's a private party/ Ooh ooh, it's not even her birthday/ But I wanna lick the icing off."

Riri replies him by delivering her own suggestive lines, "Remember how you did it, remember how you did it/ If you still wanna kiss it, come come and get it/ Put a candle on my muthaf**kin back, baby blow it/ Daddy make a wish, put this cake in your face."

Rihanna is known for making bold statements, from her often sexually charged music to her tattoos to even the hue of her hair.

But her latest decision -- a musical pairing with the man who three years ago left her bloodied and bruised -- has left some questioning her judgment.

On Monday, after days of teasing, Rihanna and Chris Brown debuted two songs featuring each other. Brown sings and raps on the remix of Rihanna's sexually charged song "Birthday Cake," and she appears on a new version of his upbeat tune "Turn up the Music."

Fans have been split about the topic: Some support Rihanna and Brown's collaborations, others condemn it. The topic was still trending on Twitter on late Tuesday, with plenty of tweets criticizing Rihanna for embracing her former abuser.

Rihanna seemed to address the controversy Tuesday when she won best international female artist at the Brit Awards.

"At times when I feel misunderstood, my fans always remind me that it's OK to be myself," Rihanna said.

But Bill Werde, editorial director of the music trade publication Billboard, says Rihanna's decision to make music with Brown could disappoint some of her supporters.

"I think there are people out there that feel betrayed (by) Rihanna," he said. "She has every right to be an individual ... she has every right to date who she wants to date and be with whoever she wants to be with. She's a grown woman. But you just need to recognize that then the fans have every right to feel how they're going to feel about that."

Emails to both Brown and Rihanna's record labels asking for more information on the songs went unreturned Tuesday, and while Rihanna's representative had no comment, Brown's publicist did not return a request for comment.

Apple iPad 3, Better Than Ever?

2012-02-11T20:07:00.000+00:00

Technology News - iPad 3, Will it be bigger and better?

Apple's iPad 3 is said to include a higher-resolution display, faster processor and bigger battery, that is of course according to the latest rumors.

Apple’s iPad franchise might dominate the tablet market at the moment even with many other contenders, but it nonetheless faces some significant threats in 2012.

Among them is Windows 8 on tablets, which could arrive sometime late in the year. Microsoft and its hardware partners will surely devote considerable marketing muscle to the upcoming operating system, creating the sort of united front that has thus far eluded the various Android manufacturers who flooded the tablet ecosystem with tablets in 2011.

What will Apple do to counter those threats and maintain its considerable market lead? Release a new iPad, of course.

According to a much-circulated AllThingsD report, the company will unveil that next-generation tablet in early March, at a high-profile event in San Francisco. “No word yet on a street date for the iPad 3 (assuming that’s what it’s called),” noted the Feb. 9 report, which relied on the ever-popular unnamed sources.

Apple traditionally keeps details of its upcoming products a closely guarded secret. However, based on reports over the past few months, it’s safe to assume the iPad 3 will include at least a few of the following features:.....READ MORE HERE

Couple set to make millions selling Picasso and Dali paintings

2012-02-11T20:02:00.000+00:00

Entertainment News - Couple set to make millions

A Couple is set to bank £25m by selling their 'extraordinary' art collection including Picasso and Dali paintings.

A couple may rake in millions of pounds if they sell their collection of painting from some of the great masters. The collection includes art work by some of the most famous painters throughout the ages including one piece by Picasso that is expected to fetch in £6 million alone.

The entire collection is to be sold over the next two days during what has been called a special sale in London. The mystery couple from Europe own artwork thought to be worth a staggering £25 million.

The sale will also include paintings from Joan Miro, Rene Magritte, Damien Hirst and Salvador Dali and has collectors drooling at the thought of owning an original piece of art from any one of the famous names in the world of art. The couple wish not to be named and have chosen Christies as the auction house in which to put this stunning art collection up for sale. The pieces were carefully put on display throughout their apartment to show them off at their best. A spokesman from Christies said that the collection was fascinating and also included sculptures. …READ MORE HERE.

Watermelon Linked To UK Deaths

2012-02-02T22:44:00.001+00:00

One person has died and at least 34 more have fallen ill from salmonella poisoning that is believed to be linked to eating imported watermelons. The sufferers, aged from six months to 85, have all fallen ill since December. The number of cases is three times higher than is normally expected in a two-month period.

The one person to die had been suffering from a number of underlying health problems. Source of outbreak? Watermelon samples tested positive for Salmonella.

The same strain of the bug - called Salmonella Newport - has been identified in five food poisoning cases....READ MORE HERE

Student Designs Bamboo Mobile Phone

2012-02-02T22:40:00.000+00:00

Technology News - New Bamboo Smartphone

The new smartphone, called ‘ADzero’, is expected to launch later this year. Made from four-year-old organically grown bamboo that has been treated to improve its durability, the phone runs Google’s Android operating system.

Kieron Scott-Woodhouse, from Shepherds Bush in London, said he designed the phone in his spare time because he was frustrated that so many existing models looked similar to each other. Middlesex University said that he was contacted by a technology entrepreneur after posting designs online...READ MORE HERE

Egypt Rages As Football Game Bodies Return Home

2012-02-02T22:35:00.000+00:00

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets as supporters of Egypt’s biggest team, Al-Ahly, and thousands of revolutionary activists surrounded the interior ministry to protest against the worst footballing disaster in Egypt’s history.

The crowd, tens of thousand strong, called for the fall of the Army Council and for Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, de facto head of state, to be hanged

Many accused supporters of Hosni Mubarak, the former president whose sons Gamal and Alaa had close ties to Egypt’s football establishment, of deliberately instigating the violence at the Port Said stadium of Al-Masry following their 3-1 win over Al-Ahly on Wednesday night.

“This was not a sports accident, this was a military massacre!” the crowds chanted. Supporters of the rival Cairo club Zamalek turned out in sympathy....READ MORE HERE

Amanda Holden Was Close To Death

2012-01-29T20:17:00.002+00:00

The Britain's Got Talent judge spent three days in a "critical condition" in an intensive care unit following her admission to hospital on Monday morning.

While the actress is now said to be stable, sources suggested she had been "close to death". No details of 40-year-old's condition has been disclosed. She admitted herself to hospital. Her new daughter, Hollie Rose Hughes, was delivered later on Monday, her spokeswoman said. A “close friend” told the Daily Mail: “Amanda nearly died. It was a life threatening situation. There was a huge loss of blood.”

Baby Plans On Hold For William and Kate

2012-01-29T20:13:00.000+00:00

William and Kate put baby plans on hold. Prince William and Kate are putting off having a family until next year so they can focus on the Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics.

Despite hopes of a Jubilee baby, sources close to the couple say they are in ‘no hurry’ to start a family and want to make sure that 2012 is a success for the sake of the Queen’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

Realistically there is not going to be time for a baby and they have said they are in no hurry. There is no urgent need for an heir – we already have two,’ says a source. ‘William and Kate want to take things in their own good time.’

The news comes as Clarence House confirmed that Kate, 30, will start solo official engagements next month, once William leaves for his first tour of duty in the Falkland Islands.

‘It will be a good distraction for her and take her mind off worrying about William,’ says the source. ‘At the moment, starting a family is definitely on the backburner.’.......READ MORE HERE

Is Amazon Competing With Netflix For Video Streaming Serivce?

2012-01-26T22:22:00.000+00:00

Amazon may be looking to cut into Netflix's action by launching a new video streaming service.

Citing information from industry sources, The New York Post said the new service would expand beyond Amazon's current Instant Video by launching as a standalone, subscription-based business.

Amazon's Instant Video is free with a $79 Amazon Prime subscription, though nonsubscribers can buy or rent individual movies and TV episodes on a per-title basis. In contrast, the new service would borrow a page from Netflix's business model. Amazon is just currently trying to figure out what to charge, one source told the Post.

Netflix is even anticipating the new video offering from Amazon.

In a letter (PDF) directed to shareholders yesterday, Netflix said that "we expect Amazon to continue to offer their video service as a free extra with Prime domestically but also to brand their video subscription offering as a standalone service at a price less than ours."....READ MORE HERE

iPhone 5 Launch This Summer

2012-01-26T21:55:00.000+00:00

Technology News - Apple iPhone 5 Lauch This Summer?

The Apple iPhone 5 'will have a four inch screen' - and samples are already under test before a launch this summer....New gizmo will have four-inch or larger screen.....Will look significantly different from iPhone 4S.....Flat case, not 'teardrop' shape.....Sources inside Apple supplier Foxconn 'Amazing new products in pipeline' - CEO

Sources inside Apple's Chinese supplier Foxconn have said that a new iPhone will have a four inch - or larger - screen. Several samples of the device are already under test, says the 'reliable' source, speaking to Apple blog 9to5Mac.

The rumour would lend credibility to the idea that Apple is plotting a summer launch for its new handset. If the company is at the prototype stage already, launch could be very soon. The final model has not been selected, but all of them are significantly different from the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S....READ MORE HERE

Amanda Holden In Intensive Care After Giving Birth

2012-01-26T21:47:00.001+00:00

Amanda Holden's husband Chris Hughes has expressed his gratitude to doctors who saved his wife's life after she 'nearly died' during the birth of their daughter Hollie Rose. Holden, 40, gave birth to her second child on Monday but spent three days in a critical condition. The actress is now stable after being treated in an intensive care unit but is expected to take a while to recover.

Chris Hughes, married to Holden since 2008, has been with her since she was admitted to hospital on Monday morning and is indebted to the medical team. A spokeswoman for the couple said: 'Chris would like to thank all the medical staff and everyone who has been involved in Amanda's care.....READ MORE HERE

Samsung Takes A Bite From The Apple

2012-01-24T20:23:00.002+00:00

The Court of Appeal in The Hague has ruled that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is sufficiently different from Apple's European design patent that the tablet can remain on sale in the Netherlands.

Samsung welcomed Tuesday's ruling, which affirmed an August 2011 ruling that the design of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is distinctive and does not infringe Apple's intellectual property rights, a spokesman said via email. The ruling again demonstrates that Apple's products simply do not warrant the intellectual property protections that it believes they should have, he added.

One of Apple's core legal claims against Samsung is that its rival copied the design of Apple's products. Apple has argued that it's no coincidence that Samsung's latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging.

Getting courts to agree with that has been difficult for Apple. After early Apple victories in Germany and Australia, Samsung tablets have become available in both countries.....READ MORE HERE

Amanda Holden In Hospital

2012-01-24T20:13:00.001+00:00

Amanda Holden pulls out of Britain's Got Talent as she is taken to hospital
Pregnant Amanda Holden has been forced to pull out of the Blackpool leg of the Britain's Got Talent auditions after she was taken to hospital, with rumours suggesting she is about to give birth.

The TV judge's spokeswoman has confirmed to metro.co.uk that Amanda was admitted to hospital yesterday and is still in there 'for observation'.

She is thought to be around eight months pregnant and speculation has risen that she is about to give birth after reportedly suffering pains last night.

After cancelling her appearance at the Blackpool audition stage of the ITV talent show, which kicked off last week, fellow judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams will now continue with the auditions today.....READ MORE HERE

K-Fed Suffers Heart Attack

2012-01-23T18:38:00.000+00:00

This could be a wake-up call for many. Kevin Federline is recovering after suffering a minor heart attack. Britney's ex-husband was rushed to hospital by ambulance after complaining of chest pains. Kevin Federline is recovering in hospital after suffering a minor heart attack. The 33-year-old was filming scenes for a new weight-loss reality series, Excess Baggage, when the incident took place in Australia.

A former dancer who has struggled with his weight since he initially ballooned in 2008, K-Fed underwent blood tests after suffering a minor cardiac arrest. Kevin was taking part in a footballing challenge when he noticed his racing pulse and a stabbing pain in his chest. Kevin was given an oxygen mask at the scene

A spokesperson for Australia's Channel Nine confirmed: "Kevin was at Doonside with the Giants, completing an AFL-related challenge. "He did his challenge, which was running and catching the ball, then he reported chest pains and a racing heart.

More Bodies Found On Ship

2012-01-23T18:32:00.002+00:00

Two more women's bodies have been found in the internet cafe of the stricken Costa Concordia as officials give the green light for 500,000 tonnes of fuel to be pumped from the ship. The two unidentified women were found in the ship's internet cafe. Authorities believe 17 people are still missing, although it has emerged that there may have been stowaways on board, meaning the total number of missing persons could be higher.

Italian authorities said the search for the missing can proceed in tandem with the fuel removal. Civil protection officer Franco Gabrielli said the enormous cruise liner was stable and there was no risk it would drop to a lower seabed. The search had been suspended several times as the ship shifted on the rocks amid fears it could slide into deeper water. Just a few yards from the wreck, the sea bottom drops off suddenly, by some 65-100ft. ...READ MORE HERE

Manhunt In UK After Prisoner Escapes

2012-01-23T18:29:00.000+00:00

A nationwide manhunt is under way after a "dangerous" murder suspect escaped from a prison van during an ambush by masked men armed with sledgehammers. John Anslow, 31, was sprung from the vehicle as it was taking three inmates from Hewell prison in Redditch to Staffordshire Crown Court.

The van was stopped near the jail by a Volkswagen Scirocco car containing three men at about 8:20am. The windscreen of the van was smashed and the driver was injured after being punched in the face. Anslow then escaped while the two other prisoners remained in the vehicle. Earlier reports suggested the driver was threatened with a blade.

Following the attack in Hewell Lane, Tardebigge, near Bromsgrove, the Scirocco drove off at speed. Police believe Anslow and the three men switched to a silver Mercedes car in Stoney Lane, Bromsgrove, shortly after. Police warned that Anslow, who was charged on Wednesday January 18 with murder, was considered "dangerous".

He is described as white, 5ft 10in and of medium build, with short, straight, dark brown hair. He was one of five men charged with the murder of Richard Deakin, who was shot dead in Chasetown, Staffordshire, in 2010. Officers from West Mercia Police, the West Midlands and the Staffordshire force are taking part in the hunt for Anslow.....READ MORE HERE

Etta James Dies Of Leukaemia

2012-01-21T12:27:00.000+00:00

Legendary soul singer Etta James, best known for the tracks At Last and I'd Rather Go Blind, has died of leukaemia aged 73.

She was taken to hospital last May suffering from dementia and kidney problems which led to severe blood infections. Last month her manager reveaed she was dying and asked her fans to pray for her. James died at a hospital in Riverside, California, with her husband and sons at her side. She would have turned 74 on Wednesday. Born Jamesetta Hawkins in 1938 when her mother was just 14, Etta James started her 50-year career with band The Creolettes.

It is a tremendous loss for her fans around the world. She'll be missed. A great American singer. Her music defied category.
Etta James' manager .Real fame came in the 1960s when James went solo and In 1967 she recorded one of the most highly regarded soul albums of all time, Tell Mama. She went on to win six Grammy awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. It was her most famous hit At Last which came to define her, providing the music for countless weddings and pehaps most famously serenading Barack and Michelle Obama at his inauguration ball. Read More HERE

Megaupload - No More

2012-01-21T12:21:00.000+00:00

Anarchic freedom of speech campaigners from the "Anonymous" movement have launched what could be the biggest attack ever on US government websites and European targets.

Sites run by the FBI, the Department of Justice, the White House and several music industry websites were subjected to a wave of spam known as a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack.

The "hactivist" assault came after the closure of the Megaupload family of sites and the arrest of its owners for alleged internet piracy of movies and music.

Anonymous also targeted the Motion Picture Association of America, the Belgian Anti-Piracy Federation, France’s copyright watchdog HADOPI, the US Copyright Office, music firm BMI and the Warner Music Group. Read More HERE

Snorkeller Fights Tiger Shark

2012-01-21T12:18:00.000+00:00

A snorkeller has told how he punched a tiger shark in the face to escape after it sank its teeth into his arm in Western Australia. David Pickering battled with the predator as two children and their mother, also in the group, watched in horror.He suffered deep cuts to his arm during the attack in Coral Bay - the third in the country this month. Mr Pickering has said he was leading a group of snorkellers when the shark struck.

He said: "I turned around and boom, there he was. (The force) was enough to actually bring me forward and under him because I scraped my knee on his belly." Mr Pickering explained how he punched the shark with his other arm and it backed off. He then yelled at the other snorkellers to get out of the water before swimming 100m to shore. Read More HERE

Captain Of Sunken Cruise Ship Says I Messed Up

2012-01-21T12:13:00.000+00:00

The cruise captain accused of abandoning ship when the Costa Concordia struck rocks, causing the deaths of eleven people, has reportedly told cruise ship chiefs: 'I messed up', sources claim. Capt Francesco Schettino, who was jailed after he left the ship, is under house arrest near Naples. He is facing charges of manslaughter and abandoning ship after he allegedly left the liner before hundreds of passengers. Schettino has claimed he tripped and fell into a lifeboat. Sky Sources said today he has told his bosses that he "messed up after hitting rocks" Previously he has maintained that he did all he could in the aftermath of the smash. The revelation came on Saturday as divers resumed their search for the 21 people still missing on board the ship.Divers used explosives to blast holes in the ship, creating more entry - and escape - routes. Large pieces of wreckage from where the ship first hit the rocks were also found. Read More HERE

Three Found Alive On Partly Submerged Cruise Ship

2012-01-15T13:10:00.001+00:00

Three people have been found alive on Sunday on the partially submerged cruise ship as workers continue their efforts near the Tuscan coast.

A couple who were on their honeymoon were found alive by Italian firemen in their cabin and have now been taken to hospital.

There cruise ship has a gash below the waterline with a rock stuck in the hull. The couple have been taken to hospital along with an Italian man who is thought to have been a crew member. Three people were killed when the cruise ship hit an object which has yet to be determined, on Friday night. Divers are continuing to comb the region and are circling the hull listening for any sounds. Divers are also combing the cabins that rest underwater for signs of the 41 people that remain unaccounted for.

The captain of the cruise ship along with the first officer have been detained for questioning on charges of manslaughter along with failing to offer assistance and abandoning the cruise ship in distress.

Hacked Xbox Live Accounts? Microsoft Says Not

2012-01-14T20:35:00.000+00:00

There has been an increase in the amount Xbox Live accounts reportedly being “hacked” although Microsoft is continuing to deny this.

Concern is rising over the Microsoft Windows ID system after gamers have reported that their account has been taken over and password changed with points being bought through their account. Some are now referring to this as the FIFA hack as this is the game that has commonly being used for thefts up and down the UK and the USA.

Apparently reports have been seen in regards to account online since December 2011 with gamers reporting that purchases have been showing up on their credit card statements which are attached to their account while with others the money have been taken through PayPal. The majority of accounts that have been hacked have been associated with FIFA Soccer 11 and 12 with many saying that the game has been played on their accounts.

Microsoft however is denying that the Xbox Live service has been compromised. They did admit to customers having contacted them regarding unauthorized usage of their account, so if this is not what Microsoft calls hacking, then what is?

Electronic Arts who gave the world FIFA, said that the game is popular globally and it could be nothing but a coincidence that the game was downloaded to many “hacked” accounts. They went on to say that with the massive amount of players from around the world playing online, FIFA is an obvious target for fraud and phishers. Microsoft also said that is was a coincidence that FIFA had been tied in to accounts which had been compromised. Is it a coincidence? Time will tell and while you are waiting it may be wise to change your Xbox Live account passwords and keep track of the times of login and any purchases made.

Entering the Rap Scene Minutes after Being Born

2012-01-12T17:39:00.000+00:00

There is nothing like starting out young in entertainment. Today we see rappers entering into the profession in their teens and going on to enjoy successful careers. However, perhaps the youngest ever up and coming rap star in the world of entertainment is the daughter of Jay-Z and Beyonce when the baby, named Blue Ivy Carter, featured on Glory, the track released by rap star Jay-Z.

That is of course if the reports can be believed that the sample of Blue Ivy was recorded only moments after she was born.

Blue Ivy, as fans of the couple will know, was born on 7^th January 2012 and may be the youngest ever to make US Billboard chart history. The song Glory was released by the proud father to celebrate the birth of his first child and daughter. Queen B features on the track along with the cries of Blue Ivy.

The track has reached the entertainment charts which makes baby Carter the youngest artist to have ever appeared in the countdown. On the track the baby was given the name, B.I.C. Billboard commented that the track was the highest entry in the R&B and Hip-Hop genre with a total of more than 1.7 million impressions from audiences of more than 54 radio stations. Rapper Jay-Z has said that his newborn daughter is his greatest creation.

Wear Your Smartphone Thanks To Sony

2012-01-12T17:15:00.000+00:00

Sony has revealed their latest innovation in technology at the Consumer Electronic Show 2012 in the form of their Xperia Watch and now it seems that you can wear your smartphone.

This latest piece of technology is available in a choice of plastic coloured wristbands and has been designed with a minimalist look.

The technology is not suprisingly both a watch and a smartphone as the name gives it away, SmartWatch. While the device is only watch size it does come with the Android operating system and a 1..3 inch OLED 128x128 display. Perfect for the younger generation with good eyesight who want access to smartphone functions on their wrist, but perhaps not something you would want to give your gran!

The smartphone watch may be connected to the Xperia Arc S through bluetooth which allows you to answer calls, check your messages and even access popular social networking sites. Though you may get some odd looks if you are talking to what seems to be your wristwatch.

The cost of the smartphone technology has not yet been disclosed as of today 12^th Jan 2012 and only time will tell if it will be a success or not.